Pulaski Mariners hold off Kingsport Mets

KINGSPORT, Tenn. — Gabrial Franca scored the eventual game-winning run on a groundout in the top of the seventh inning, and Leoncio Munoz and Emilio Pagan held off a late Mets rally to give the Pulaski Mariners their eighth straight win, a 4-3 victory over Kingsport on Tuesday night at Hunter Wright Stadium.

Pulaski took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a passed ball and extended the lead to 3-0 in the third behind RBI doubles by Tyler Smith and Jeffrey Zimmerman. Franca’s run in the seventh made it 4-0.

Kingsport rallied with three in the eighth. After the Mets had trimmed the lead to 4-1, Joe Tuschak singled to put runners at first and second. Jeyckol De Leon followed with a two-run double to bring Kingsport to within a run. However, Pagan came in and slammed the door shut by forcing a popout to end the inning. He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to collect his 10th save of the season.

Mariners’ starter Jose Flores (5-0) pitched five shutout innings, allowing three hits, four walks and striking out seven.

Game two of the series will take place tonight at 7 p.m.

Pulaski 012 000 100 — 4 5 2

Kingsport 000 000 030 — 3 6 3

Flores, Munoz (6), Pagan (8) and Torres; Reyes, Baldonado (8) and De Leon. WP – Flores (5-0), LP – Reyes (3-3), S – Pagan (10).

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